ALEXANDER HARTELUST
v.
THOMAS SCHWARTZ

Fla. 3d DCA | 2026-02-25
No. 2025-0613
2026 FL 2091 Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District (2026)

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Synopsis

Appellant Hartelust appealed from a bench trial judgment but failed to provide a transcript of the evidentiary hearing. The court affirmed because without a transcript, it cannot review whether the trial court's findings were supported by the evidence.


Holding

Without a transcript of the evidentiary hearing, the appellate court cannot evaluate the evidence and testimony presented at trial to determine whether the trial court's findings were well-founded, and therefore must affirm the judgment.


Key Quotes

“we are unable to evaluate the evidence and testimony presented at trial to ascertain whether or not the trial court's findings and reasoning . . . were well-founded”

Establishes the fundamental reason why the appellate court cannot review findings of fact without a trial transcript

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Facts & Procedural History

This case involved a non-jury trial on the merits before the trial court. The appellant challenged the trial court's findings of fact on appeal but di…

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Per_curiam
Per Curiam

Third District Court of Appeal State of Florida Opinion filed February 25, 2026. Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing. No. 3D25-613 Lower Tribunal No. 24-183035-SP-05 Alexander Hartelust, Appellant, VS. Thomas Schwartz, Appellee. An Appeal from the County Court for Miami-Dade County, Luis Perez-Medina, Judge. Alexander Hartelust, in proper person. Thomas Schwartz, in proper person. Before LOGUE, BOKOR, and GOODEN, JJ. PER CURIAM. While the Appellant challenges the trial court's findings of fact reached after a non-jury trial on the merits, he provides no transcript of the evidentiary

hearing. In the absence of a transcript, “we are unable to evaluate the evidence and testimony presented at trial to ascertain whether or not the trial court's findings and reasoning . . . were well-founded." Shojaie v. Gables Court Pro. Ctr., Inc., 974 So. 2d 1140, 1142 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008). In these circumstances, we are constrained to affirm. See Applegate v. Barnett Bank of Tallahassee, 377 So. 2d 1150, 1152 (Fla. 1979); All Cntys. Surplus LLC v. Flamingo S. Beach I Condo. Ass’n, 211 So. 3d 1096, 1098 (Fla. 3d DCA 2017). Affirmed. 2


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